Valve-locking mechanism for dry-pipe valves



July '20 1926.-

a x 3 mm \nvnTor. TG E. C\urK E. E. CLARK mm: LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DRY PIPE VALVES Filed July 24,,1922

5 I z V/W/ 7 6 6 V r v l r Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,sa3,01s

rarest oFFicE.

EZRA E. CLARK, OF NEVVTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T FRANK J. FEE,

OF NEJW RGCHELLE, NEW YORK.

VALVE-LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DRY-PIEE VALVES.

Application filed July 24, 1922.

This inventionrelates to improvements in dry pipe valves of the ty'pe which are employed in automatic spr nkler systems and "which include a water valve and an air valve 5 ct larger area thanthe water valve, so constructed and positioned that the pressure of air confined in the sprinkler system will hold the water valve closed against the pressure oi *ater in the supply pipe.

0 Dry pipe valves of this general character areprovided with means for guiding the valve structure, upon release of the air pressure in the sprinkler systen'nto a position outside of the waterway so that the water 5 will flow freely from the supply pipe "c h the outlet of the casing and the connecting pipes to the sprinkler system.

' In certain types of dry'pipe valves, such, for example. as that illustrated in my prior Patent No. 1,450,428 granted April 3, 1923, means are provided for supporting the wa t-r valve and the air valve in such a manner that the movement of the valves from closed to open position causes a relative movement, usually an angular movement, of one valve relatively to the other.

The principal object of the presentinvention is to provide means for locking the valves against such angular movement when the valve structure is swung to open position so that they cannot be returned to closed position by a reverse flow of the column of water leading from the dry pipe valve to the sprinkler heads in case the water supply entering the dry pipe valve casing is diverted by the opening of a second dry pipe valve, or for any other reason.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. novel locking mechanism for accomplishing this purpose acting by the influence of gravity as the valves are swung to open position.

A. further feature of the invention consists in providing conveniently operable means for releasing the locking means when. it is desired to restore the valves to closed position.

i A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for restraining the locked valve structure when in open position from a pivotal closing movement.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appea trom the fol- Serial No. 578,948.

loving description and the accompanying drawing and will be particularlypointed out in the claims.

The drawing illustrates in vertical section a'prelerred embodiment of the inven tion applied to a dry pipe valve structure of the type illustrated in my prior Patent No. 1,4i50, l28 aforesaid.

The dry pipe valve illustrated in the accompa ying drawing comprises a body portion or casing 1 which is provided at its upper end with an outlet 2 adapted to be connected to an automatic sprinkler system normally containing air under pressure. The lower end of the casing is provided with an inlet conduit 3 adapted to be connected to the usual riser pipe of the water supply which is always under pressure. The inlet and outlet openings 3 and 2 preterably are in alinement so that a substantially straight waterway is provided through the casing for the water which is forced therethrough upon unseat-ing of the air and water valves by the release of a sprinker head and consequent reduction of air pres- I sure in the sprinkler system.

The casing is provided with a lateral extensions, providing a chamber to receive the valves-when in open position, having a large aperture therethrough through which the valves may be introduced and removed. said aperture being provided with a removable cover 5. c

The end of the inlet conduit 3 is provided with a water valve seat 6 which preferably lies in a plane normal to the axis of the inlet conduit. The casing is also provided with an air valve seat 7, of considerably larger diameter than the water valve seat. which surrounds the water valve seat and preferably is located in a plane oblique to the plane of the water valve seat.

The water valve 6 is connected by a stud S to the end portion of a. swinging sup-' porting and guiding arm 9, the lower end of which is provided with ashaft or laterally projecting studs 10 which are pivotally mounted in a slotted bearing 11 in a bracket l2projecting from the side of the inlet conduit 3. Preferably the connection between the stud 8 upon the water valve and the arm 9 is slightly loose :to enable 'a sutficient-rocking of the valve to insure proper seating thereof upon the valve seat.

The air valve efer: f coucavee torn and surroi nnw .(l My encloses l pai of arms 16 hetween which thQ the air valve extension or a roller 11" is mounted upon a shaft 18 supported or journalled in said arms. Preferably the end portions of the arms 16 present a curved surface of the same 'adius and conforming to the curvature of the periphery of the roller 17.

The lower portion of the chamber extends do nwardl into the form of a pocltet 19 providing a guidewa v for the extension of the air valve. This gjuidewav desirahl is provided with a suhstai tiallv vertical wall having a central track 20 for the roller l; and recessed portions 21 at either side of the track to prevent engagement of the rounded end portions of the arms with the wall of the guidewav. The hotto n of the guide way desirably is provided with a V-shaped seat 22 to receive the air valve extensnins 16 when the valve structure is swung to open position.

In the operation of the device the swinging movement of the valves fr m closed to open position causes the water valve to he moved. about the pivot 10 ot the arm to the position t Durillustrated in dot ed lines. ing this movement of the water valve from closed to open position the air valve is moved relat-ivclv to the w: ter 'alve lrv reason of its )lVOtzll connection with the arm 9 and the engagement of the roller 17 117011 the air valve extension. with the track 20 of the guidewav so that whet the valves are swung to open position the face of the air valve will be substantially in parallelism with the face of the water valve as illustrated in dotted lines.

The princiua olriect of the pr :ent invcntion. as above stated. in to provide means for locking the air valve and water valve against relati :e moven'ient when swung to open p st tion thereln; preventing the closing of the valves lav reverse flow of the column of water leading to the ..prinl ler s vstein in case the water supp entering the casing is di" verted by the opening of a second dry pipe valve or for any other reason.

A nv suitable means may he provided for locking the valve and water valve against such relative movement within the scope of the present invention. The preferred mechanism which is illustrated herein comprise-3 interengaging locking: members which are so constructed antlpositioned as to be engaged by the force of gravity d and particularly at the he movement of the elves to *ti-rular constructitm illustrate-l g mechanism eon'iprises a pawl 22' comiuued with a counterweight which is pivsupported by or upon'a shaft Qatcar a n lugs or ears 25 which project upwardr from the pivotally mounted arm 9 which 'orts and guides the water 'alve. The provided at one end,the left as shown, a central projection or tooth 26 present a notch or shoulder which is positioned to engage a shoulder 2. projecting inwardly from the inner face of the concaved air valve 13 when the valve is swung to the position illustrated in dottei. lines in the drawing.

The body of the pawl 23 desirably is cored to provide a chamber 98 to receive a weigh t ot lead or other heavy material which may he poured into the chamber through suitable apertiu'es 29 in the pawl. The pawl thus weighted normally rests upon the arm 9 as illustrated in full lines in the drawing when the valves are in closed position. 'When, however, the valves a e swung toward open position the weighted pawl swings about its pivot 2t so that the notch of the tooth 26 engages the shoulder 27 which projects inwardh from the inner face of the concave air valve 13. thus locking the water and air valves together as illustrated in dotted lines in the drawing.

ln order that the pawl may be convenientv released from engagement with the shouhler 2? when it is desired to reset the valves in closed position the pawl is provided with a downwz'irdlv extending; arm 30 having a laterally extending'hainlle 3t Wlll('.l

may he couvenientlv sped by the operator and actuated to sung the pawl ahout it; pivot from he dotted line position to the full line po ion ill istrated in the drawing. it thus manipulating the pawl the opera tor 1 2. is hand through the opening in the 1 reaches around the edge of the o manipulate the handle 31. he rememhered that durumthe relative angular movement bevalve and water valve is pro- 5 position tween the air duced and the shoulder 13? is so positioned upon the air valve that when the vzlve structure is swunsr to open position the tooth 28 will engage the shoulder :37 and effectiv l'v look the air and water valves against relativeumvement t-lierehv preventing the valves from again swingingto closed position in case a reverse flow of the column of water causes a pressure upon the valves which otherwise would tend to swing them to closed position.

the pivot 11:?

vided to engage the roller 17 on the ex tension 16 and prevent such swinging movement of the va ve structure as a whole.

In the preferred construction illustrated this guide comprises a curved projeetiqn or horn 32 which is secured to or formed integral with the cover 5 and extends into the guideway adjacent to the path of the. extension 16 and roller 17 of the air valve and preferably slightly overlies the wall of the V-shaped seatfor said extension so that in case the valve structure has a tendency to swing about the pivot 10, by reason. oi reverse flow of the water through the casing, the roller 17 on the extension 16 will engage the face of the projection or horn and be ar rested against further movement.

it will be noted that the valve structure is wholly mounted upon the pivotal shaft 10 which is journalled in the slotted bearing 11 so that the valve structure as an entirety can be readily inserted and removed through the aperture 4- when the coverhas been taken off. When,however, the valve structure has been assembled in the casing the upper overhanging wall 33 of the journal 11 acts to prevent displacement of the valve structure.

The bacltot the air valve also desirably is provided with a preferably centrally disposed rib 34c and the cover 5 is provided with a. complementary web or rib 85, the face of which lies closely adjacent to the path of the rib 34 on the air valve when the air valve is swung to open position. These ribs are so positioned as to co-operate in guiding the valves to open position and also prevent displacement of the valves when locked in open position if the dry pipe valve is turned over is likely to occur in transportation.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive and that various modifications in form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing having a waterway therethrough and provided with a water valve seat and an air valve seat, a water valve and an air valve angularly'movable relatively to each other, means for conjoint-1y supporting and guiding said valves from closed position to an open position out of the waterway and acting to vary the relative positions of said valves during their movement to open position and means movable relatively to said valve supporting means for automatically locking said valves together during the movement to open position whereby said valves will be prevented from closin 2. Adry pipe valve comprising a casing having a waterway therethrough and provided with a water valve seat and an air valve seat, a water valve and an air valve angularly movable relatively to each other, neans for conjointly supporting and guiding said alves from closed position to an open position out of the waterway and acting to vary the relative posi tions of said valves during their movement to open position, locking mechanism movable relatively to said valve support ing means by the action of gravity into interengagement during the movement of said valves from closed to open position and acting when engaged to lock said valves together and to prevent relative angular movement of said valves in the reverse direction and thereby to prevent closing of said va ves.

3. A. dry pipe valve comprising a casing having a. waterway therethrough and provided with a water valve seat and an air valve at, a water valve, means including an arm pivotally connected to said water valve for supporting said valve and guiding the same from closed to open position, an air valve pivotally mounted on said arm, means for varying the angular relation of: said air valve to said water valve during the movements of said valves to open position and co-operating locking members carried respectively by said arm and air valve and movable relatively thereto into intereugaging position as the valves open thereby to prevent said valves from closing.

t. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing having a waterway therethrough and provided with a water valve seat and air valve seat, a water valve, means including an arm pivotally connected to said water valve for supporting said valve and guiding the same from closed to open position, an air valve pivotally mounted on said arm, means for varying the angular relation of said air valve to said water valve during the movements of said valves to open position, a gravity pawl pivotally mounted on said arm and a shoulder on said air valve positioned to be engaged by said pawl during the movement of the valves to open position and acting to prevent said valves from closing.

5. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing having a waterway therethrough and provided with a water valve seat and an air .valve seat surrounding said water valve seat and located in a plane oblique to the plane of said water valve seat, a water valve, means including a swinging arm pivotally connected to said water valve acting to sup aort said valve and guide the same from closed to open position, a concave air valve surrounding said water valve pivotal ly mounted on said arm, guiding means engaging said air valve acting to cause relative angular movement between. said air valve and said water *alve during the movement of said valves to open position, a gravit v pawl mounted on said a in located under said air valve and a shoulder on said air valve positioned to be engaged by said pawl l i the movement of said valves toward siti .n and thereby to prevent said rom closing. drv pipe valve comprising a casing having: a vaterwav therethrough and providcd with a water valve seat and an air valve surrounding said water valve seat and located in a ilane oblique to the plane ot sa il water valve seat, a vater valve, inans including a swinging arm liivotaliv connen (l to said wa er valve acting to s. npo t said valve and guide the same d to open position. a concave air val vending said water valve ivotallv on said arm, guiding' means engga d air valve acting to cause i'elati' l movement between said air val and said water valve during the movemei of said valv s to 03en position. a pawl mounted on said arm lo .ated under said air valve and a shoulder on said air valve positioned to be engaged by said pawl during the moven'ient of said valves tov. d open position and therebv to prevent said valves from closing and an arm on said pawl adapted to be grasped by the operator to re lease said pawl trom engagement with said shoulder.

7. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing having vaterwav therethrough, a water valve seat and an air valve seat surrounding said water 'alve seat r id located in a plane oblique to the plane oi? said water valve seat, and a chamber to receive the valves when in open position having a downwardlv extending" uioewav and provided with an or eninghaving" a r movable cover to permit introduction and removal of the valves, a vater valve, a detachable pivotal arm connected to said water valve acting to support said water valve and to guide the same into said chamber. an air valve pivotally mounted upon and surrounding said arm, an extension on said air valve positioned to enter said guideway during the opening of said valves and acting to *ause relative angular movement between said v e; during thelr n'iovemcnt to open position, mains operable movement ot during the iid valves to open position to loel; said valves against relative angular movement and mez. 1 located upon said reniovahle cover positioned to engage said air valve extension acting to prevent closing movement of the lOClKQtl valve structure.

A dry pipe vave comprising a casing having a water vay therethrongh, a vater valve seat and an air valv s a surrounding said water valve sea and located in a plane ellique to the plane of said ater valve seat, and a chamber to receive the valves when in open position having a downwardidine' guidewa and provided witl an having a ren'io able cover to pern'iit luction and removal of the valves, a detachable pivotal arm coureel. d to said water valve acting to support water valve and to guide the same into chan'iber, an air valve pivotally mountipon and surrounding said arm, an e7-;- te sion on said air valve positioned to enter said ;3;uidewav during the opening; of said valves and acting to cans re ative angular said 'alves during their moven ill between n'ioven'ient to open position. means operable during the movement of said valves to open position to loch said valves against relative ar :lar movement, a seat having convergr k walls at the bottom of said guidewav to receive and contact with said air valve er:- tensioi when the valves are in open position and prevent displacement of the valves from open position, an opening in the wall of said cl amher and cover for said opening having; guiding n'ieans projecting into said guidewav positioned to engage said air valve extension and prevent pivotal closing n'iovement of said locked valves, but removable with said cover to permit introduction and removal the valves from the casing.

In testimon whereof, l have signed my name 0 this specification.

EZ iii E. CLARK; 

